Obituary of John Holla

Holla, John A. ~ Passed away peacefully at his home in St. Catharines on Monday, June 18, 2012. In his 86th year, John Albert Holla, beloved husband of the late Joanne Holla (nee Van Scheppingen). John was a native of The Netherlands where he was born, March 25, 1927 to Jerry and Elizabeth (Pynaker) Holla in Amsterdam. He met and married Joanne Van Scheppingen on May 4, 1953 before immigrating to Canada. During WWII John was active in the Dutch Underground Movement and after the war was drafted into the Dutch Army in 1947 and served with the Royal Service Corp in Indonesia. Upon arriving in Canada he was employed part time by GM until becoming a full time GM employee at their St. Catharines Foundry and retired after twenty-five years in 1991. John was a great believer in the youth of our community serving as a Scout Master for over twenty years starting in 1960 and while still very active in Scouting, John and Joanne became Foster Parents in the 1970’s and continued that effort for youth for over twenty years. John was a member of St. Mary’s Parish, St. Thomas Parish and St. Alfred as he moved through St. Catharines finally residing in the Canadian Auto Workers Village where his beloved wife, Joanne died. He became a Knight of Columbus with Council 1394 on January 4, 1983 and received his third degree Knighthood on his birthday, March 25, 1983. Friends may call at the Patrick J. Darte Funeral Chapel, 39 Court St. , St. Catharines (905-685-6584) on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 from 7 to 9pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Alfred Roman Catholic Church, 272 Vine St., St. Catharines on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 9:30am. Msgr. Clutterbuck officiating Rite of Committal to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Vigil prayers will be celebrated in the funeral home on Wednesday June 20, 2012 at 7pm. Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 1394 are requested to attend a memorial service following Vigil prayers. Memorial donations will be appreciated to Scarborough Missions, 2685 Kingston Road, Scarborough, ON M1M 1M4.